Found the Beach

Tues.
June 10 [cont.] one place and in attempting to start it Vince broke the key in half.

Wed.
June 11 - Were wakened at 5 a.m. by local alarm clock - lady singing very loudly.

Vince went to work today. The kids and I had porridge a little after 10, and then attempted to find the beach. We gave up and were on the way back when a lady called and asked if we were going bathing. Upon hearing that we couldn't find the beach she went back into the house. Soon a girl came out and showed us the way. Her name is Rona. She walked with us for 15 or 20 minutes and even carried Jené.


Sandy Ground beach and salt ponds. Photo Credit: Vince Williams.


Sandy Ground beach. Photo Credit: Vince Williams. If driving we would often park near the modern house in the middle of the photo.


Sandy Ground beach even closer. Photo Credit: Vince Williams. The modern house is at the bottom.


Right on the beach. Photo Credit: Vince Williams.

The beach was delightful and the kids had a good time. After a hard hot walk back up the path, we made it back to the hotel for lunch dinner. We all got our start on a sun burn.

Car Troubles

Mon.
June 16 - Took Vince & Pat to work so I could have the car. When I picked up the hub cap which fell off I noticed the tire was low. Woe is me. I tried to find someone to fix it - finally one of the Engineers did change to the spare. So I got to the Bank to change some money. Then I drove the wrong way on the street in front of the police station. The fellow who stopped me said he wouldn't make a federal case of it. So I got home, had porridge & took the kids for a 1/2 hour swim. Then went back to pick up Vince.

Washed clothes Pd


The car in front of the Dental Clinic. Photo Credit: Vince Williams.

Tues.
June 17 - Walked down to Sandy Ground for a swim. Am getting a burn so I'd better watch it. Laid around the rest of the day till Vince came home when we went swimming again.

We've been here a week and I can't keep track of the days.

Swimming, Shopping, and the Mobile Clinic

Wed.
June 18 - Took Vince to work again so we could have the car. Went swimming north of the Pier on Sandy Ground. Got home about 11 - had corn flakes with warm milk.

This afternoon, we went looking at several stores - didn't find much. Surprised at the prices!

Went to the airport at 2:15 to wait for the Hercules to land. It came at 4:00. Hurried to the clinic to get Vince so he could see it take off. It finally took off at 5:30. Fun to watch!

Had ice cream before bed. Wrote Pam.

Thurs.
June 19 - Fooled around all day. Went bathing at the Sea when Vince came home even though he was late. Lotza bathers - a couple of skinny dippers. Michele came down.


Pat and Lorna with the Anguilla Mobile Clinic. Photo Credit: Vince Williams.

Wrote Sharon & Dalen. Vince took the Mobile Clinic to an East End school. Saw one class - did 35 extractions. Plus the 15 extractions & few fillings he'd done in the valley.


Mobile Clinic at the school. Photo Credit: Vince Williams.

More Swimming and Lotza Patients

Fri.
June 20 - Kept the car again so took the kids to Sandy Ground. They had a good time!

Wrote to First Lutheran this p.m.

Went and got Vince at the Clinic.

We're feeling a little queazy in the stomach - hope we don't have too much trouble. Fooled around tonight not doing much of anything.

Washed clothes Pd

Sat.
June 21 - Vince worked this a.m. Had lotza patients - they aren't used to appointment. Just come when they have a toothache.

Went bathing after Vince & Jené had a nap. Pearl and Pat went along. The Sea is refreshing.

Had showers and shampoos tonight before bed. The kids slept under mosquito netting. Heard from Vince's folks and Glora [Bakken] today. What fun to get mail!

Evening Invitation

Mon.
June 30 - Letters from Sharon [Asche] & Lillie [Vince's mother]

Took Vince to work again. Took the kids to Sandy Ground again this morning – both Arik & Jené napped this p.m. so didn't work swimming in. Were invited to the Vanier'[s] for the evening – had a nice visit. He is manager of Barclay's Bank. Will be transferring to another island in a couple of months. Claudia is getting all her dentistry done before they leave. Think Vince has convinced Mr. Vanier to do the same. Got home at 11:30 – went to bed by candlelight.

Tues.
July 1 - Wrote Elaine Grimes & Pastor N. [Ness]. Vince wrote Spence.

A quiet day – cloudy and comfortably cool. Had the car but didn't take the kids swimming till Vince was done. Lorna & Pat went along.

Letter from Pam [Verla's sister].

Dawn Helps Out

Fri.
July 4 - Dawn went along with Vince this a.m. Vince took the p.m. off. We went swimming in Meade's Bay with Pat & Lorna. More rain today.

Went to party at Jerry Seifert's – must have been 50-60 people there. Mr. Cumber, Mr. Heman [?] - Mr. Gumbs, Jodge, Harrigan; Vanier.

Vince asked if Vaniers wanted to go swimming with us tomorrow if it quits raining.

Got home at 1:00 a.m.

Sat.
July 5 - Pat wasn't feeling good so Dawn went along with Vince to the Clinic to help. Vince didn't get home until 1:30 – a busy morning.

Got 2 letters from Mom [Agnes Blakey] and 1 from Pastor Ness. Mom wrote that Averland [Verla's brother] has a tumor on his lung – getting radiation treatments.

Took the kids to Sandy Ground – a big crowd today. These fair-haired kids sure attract company.

Had showers & shampoos before bed. (Had some good tasting apples today).

Vaniers decided to postpone our swimming date a week. Claudia had a toothache most of the night.

Shoal Bay and Island Harbor

Sat.
July 12 - Dawn went with Pat & Vince to work. Guess they had a busy morning – had 18 extractions. Vanier's came over but went ahead of us to Sandy Ground. We finally got together for a swim. Go home after seven six which was too late to get ready for a party – farewell to Michele. I had to shampoo my hair. Claudia loaned me her hair dryer but it was 220v.

Heard from Mom [Agnes Blakey].

Wrote Heruth's & Menzies.

Sun.
July 13 - We went to church and then had dinner. We went up to Shoal Bay for swimming, snorkeling, & shell hunting. Vince really liked it though the road was pretty bad. He found a beautiful conch shell which we are going to keep for a souvenir. We drove up through Island Harbor on our way home. Saw Pastor Gootch's (sp?) house, also his church and Ronald Webster's home.

A Rainy Day

July 18 – Vince wrote his mother. A rainy day – I kept the car but we didn't use it. The second day we didn't go swimming. Mark & Dawn made up treasure hunts for Pat. She found both of them when she got home.

The lights went out with only a second's warning so we went to bed by lantern light.

Spells fat.

• Breakfast – 8:00
• Orange – 9:30
• Porridge – 10:15
• Lunch – 12:00
• Taste of watermelon
• Cookies & Milk – 2:00
• Supper – 5:15

Sat.
July 19 –  Mark went to the clinic with Vince & Pat. Such a night we had – it poured! A couple of loud thunder cracks. Jené fell out of bed twice. Dawn came in to see if I heard the thunder.

Arik "messed" his pants in hallway.

Mark came in with a pain in his right hip.

The ceiling leaked – dripped on Vince's pillow. As I said, such a night!

Took Lorna & Pat down to Sandy Ground with us for a swim. Vince found starfish but no conch shells. So far we've had no luck preserving starfish.

Got lotsa mail – Sharon, Mom, Groteguts, Stroms, Hoxeng [?], Lippman, Spence, Lillie, Sita, Tim,  Elaine.

One Small Step – One Giant Leap

July 20 – Went to church this a.m. I took the kids to Sandy Ground this p.m. Dena, Eddie, Mannie, several were there. Took a short ride after supper to deliver a letter to Clayton to deliver to Miss Babette.

Listened with interest to Apollo 11. They landed safely on the moon. Vince stayed up till 11 to hear that they had stepped out on the moon.


"Restored Apollo 11 Moonwalk." Image courtesy NASA Youtube Channel.

July 21 – Washed clothes Pd. Took Vince to work. Mark rode along. Got kerosene – Vince forgot his pipe so I had to go back to the hotel for it. The kids got dressed for swimming – Dawn bought a hat – We went to Sandy Ground.

First had porridge & then soup. Heard the astronauts lift off from the moon.

Copied some Anguilla history which I got from Library this p.m.

Picked up Vince again – have been listening to radio to hear the news of Apollo 11.

Wrote to Mom tonight before going to bed.

A Church Program

Fri.
Aug. 1 – Methodist Church.
Took Vince to work. Pat is at her all upset – her uniform didn't fit. She won't appear in that!


Pat Connor in a happy mood. Photo credit: Vince Williams.

Set Dawn's hair.

Went down to the Sea this morning.

Set my hair after lunch. Wrote a letter to Mom. Went to get Vince early & to look for brake fluid. Ended up at the Camp, where the Sarge ga put in fluid for me – he says there is a leak some where.

Went to the Program at church – Very good.

The soloist, the director's daughter, Eleanor [Bynoe] exceptional talent.


Eleanor Bynoe performing at the church concert. Photo credit: Vince Williams.

Sat.
Aug. 2 – Vince went to work; Mark went along.

Got letters from Lillie, Charlotte, Heruth's.

Went down to Sandy Ground for a swim in the late afternoon.

Showers, shampoos, to bed.

Holiday Boat Races

Sun.
Aug. 3 – Send John a card –
Awoke early as usual. Went to church. Vince took pictures of 4 girls – Pat, Lorna, Ann, Earlen.


The four "girls." Photo credit: Vince Williams.

Simon picked us up at 1:30, picked up the 4 girls, took us to Shoal Bay – what a ride! Nice time. When delivering the girls again, some young Anguillan fellow – called them paratrooper-woman, and other derogatory remarks at us whites.

Tomorrow is a holiday – lotsa celebrating!

Mon.
Aug. 4 – National holiday so Vince didn't work. We mostly laid around all day. Walked over to hill to watch the moto sail boat races. Mark & Dawn walked down to Sandy Ground with Pat but were too late to see anything. The hotel has been busy all weekend with as many as 7 more besides us. Took the kids swimming in late afternoon.

[NOTE: August Monday is the first Monday in August, celebrated as a holiday marking the emancipation of the slaves in the former British Caribbean.]

Parties and Gifts

Thurs.
Aug. 7 – Vince took the car today. So the kids entertained themselves around the hotel. Vince & Pat got home about 2:30 – we went to Mead's Bay to watch the boat races, which we don't understand. After a later supper Vince and I went to Vanier's – Dr. & Mrs. Fenwick were as well as 3 English fellows & a worker from the bank. Made it home without running out of gas but we're getting low.

Got an invitation to a party on board the frigate Mohawk on Sat. nite.

Fri.
Aug. 8 – Took Vince to work. Ran out of gas in George Hill. Vince, Pat, Dawn & Mark caught a ride in. Clu [?] came out on a scooter with enough gas to get to Valley. Cashed some Traveler's checks, filled the tank, & came home.

Dawn stayed to help at the Clinic. Took the kids to Sandy Ground. Went back to Clinic - took Vince to airport – He flew to St. Maarten, bought a watch and earrings & flew back.

Walton stopped by & visited in the evening.

Vince said when Lorna opened her gift – she gave him a kiss on the cheek – all thrilled.

Winding Down

Sat.
Aug. 9 – Washed clothes Pd.
A rainy morning. Vince took the car to work. Got home after 2. I took Dawn down to Sandy Ground to buy a starfish & shells.

Rained showers all day – clothes didn't dry.

Went to party on frigate Mohawk.

Sun.
Aug. 10 – Still raining. Went to church, had dinner. While Vince napped I wrote letters to Sharon and to Menzies. Vince took the kids for a last dip, while Jené and I started packing. To bed by 10.